In the second fight, Alex clearly had a major reach advantage, but got skunked. Is reach not the significant factor that an ignorant n00b like me would think it is or was Alex's skill level so much lower that he was dominated despite having a substantial advantage from reach? Or is reach only a significant advantage if one knows how to use it?

Pretty much the bold part. Namely, one should generally be attacking and retreating to a distance slightly outside of weapon range, but a lot of people will actually do that from slightly inside it without realizing it. The other thing that negates reach is striking with the middle of the stick instead of the tip of it.

Pretty much the italicized part. Namely, one should generally be attacking and retreating to a distance slightly outside of weapon range, but a lot of people will actually do that from slightly inside it without realizing it. The other thing that negates reach is striking with the middle of the stick instead of the tip of it.

Generally, in that sort of competition you use the "live" hand to "check" your opponent, so you trap his hand against his body so he can't strike or you give him a little push (most rulesets say no pushing but a "short, sharp palm strike" is ok - in my experience it all turns into shoving).

A major issue for a lot of the serious WEKAF (that's the most common type of ruleset for armour like Permalost is wearing in those vids) guys I've spoken to is that their non-stick hands get torn up by the metal grills on the helmets.

20 years in Judo and almost 25 in TKD, and yes I still suck. I probably suck less than the average joe, but I suck nonetheless.

30 years ago, I made it my goal to train to my maximum potential. Currently, my goal to suck less than the majority. I no longer train to compete or to prove that I suck less, I train so that I will be trained and have at least a bit of an advantage over the average joe should I have to defend myself. I spar more with B.O.B. than I do with students; I could video and post that, but you would all remain unimpressed LOL.

30 years ago, I made it my goal to train to my maximum potential. Currently, my goal to suck less than the majority. I no longer train to compete or to prove that I suck less, I train so that I will be trained and have at least a bit of an advantage over the average joe should I have to defend myself. I spar more with B.O.B. than I do with students; I could video and post that, but you would all remain unimpressed LOL.

Unfortunately, there is no one for me to spar in TKD. I get yelled at for using foot sweeps when I do spar (tappy tappy tag bullshit). I am hoping to get some sparring done in judo tomorrow. I have a few students that hold black belts (sic) in striking arts. One of them is actually one of my TKD students who got tired of the lack of sparring at our dojang so I told him to bring his sparring gear in for a little sport jj action.

Originally Posted by Holy Moment

BJJ JOE: I'm going to make hate to you. Right here, right now. ... Ohhhhhhhh, I'm going to make hate to you so hard that your kinfolk back in Africa will feel it.l